Osu castle to be converted into presidential museum

Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture-designate, Catherine Afeku has announced that part of the Christianborg (Osu) Castle would be converted into a museum to house relics of Ghanaian legends.

The castle, which until 2012 was the seat of Ghana’s government, is located at the coast in the country’s capital, Accra.

The nominee told parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday that about 6 rooms in the colonial edifice would be used for that purpose.

Responding to a question from a member of the committee on what her ministry will do to take advantage of historical figures, she said the conversion of the castle is part of the process to retool the Ghana Museum Board.

“…we are applying for the Christianborg Castle, a portion of it, about six rooms, we intend once given the nod to create a presidential museum,” the Tourism Minister-designate said.

Mrs. Afeku noted that the project will provide a 24-hour museum that people can see things used by “legends of our nation” including the “jackets that they wore, the books they wrote, even the pots they ate in”.

She regretted that persons like Paa Grant, who is regarded as “the father of Gold Coast politics”, have their homes abandoned, assuring that their homes would be renovated as tourist attraction sites.

After taking part in the transition process, Mrs. Afeku said she was “amazed” at what Ghana has in terms of tourism, stating that the private sector would be brought on board to support the tourism sector.